Last week, U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., and Darren Soto, D-Fla., spoke at Publix’s inaugural Hunger Summit in Lakeland along with Publix CEO Todd Jones, Publix President Kevin Murphy, and USDA Region IV Regional Administrator Willie Taylor to recognize Publix’s “Commitment to Hunger” program and the work Feeding America member food banks do in their communities every day.
The summit brought together partners from the public and private sectors to work together to alleviate food insecurity and hunger for members of our communities.
“Ending hunger is an issue that is very dear to my heart,” said Lee. “My time serving with ECHO of Brandon and the Open Arms Ministry at Hyde Park United Methodist Church showed me the need to address food insecurity in our community. Resources like food banks are a vital part of ensuring people in need have access to critical support. I appreciate Publix’s dedication to bringing together local partners to address hunger and identify community-based solutions to support families.”
“It was an honor to attend the Publix Hunger Summit and hear from food banks in our region on their efforts to combat food insecurity. After being recently appointed to the Agriculture Committee in Congress, I look forward to working alongside these organizations to ensure we are prioritizing our communities’ needs in the upcoming Farm Bill. My office will advocate for increased funding for key programs, a streamlined application process for families in need, and much more,” said Soto.
“Our summit provided an opportunity to build stronger connections and, together, find better ways to accomplish a united purpose — feeding even more people in need in the communities we serve,” said Jones.
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